A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning utilities.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details about the consequences for breaking rules regarding donations.

Nonpartisan Elections for Utility Commissioners

This bill changes how Indiana picks its five utility commissioners to nonpartisan elections and sets rules about who can run and donate money.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the way Indiana chooses its five utility commissioners to be nonpartisan starting in 2026.
• Requires that anyone running for a commissioner job must have lived in Indiana for at least one year before the election.
• Does not allow someone who works with or has money invested in utilities to run as a commissioner.
• Prohibits candidates and their committees from soliciting or accepting contributions from utilities or people connected to them during the candidacy period.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who want to be utility commissioners
• Utilities and people connected to them

Terms To Know

IURC

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which oversees utilities in Indiana.

Nonpartisan election

An election where candidates do not run as members of a political party.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the consequences for breaking rules about who can donate money.
• It is unclear how this will affect current commissioners or their terms.

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning utilities.
Election of IURC commissioners.

Current Bill Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning utilities.

Election of IURC commissioners.

Provides for nonpartisan election of the five members of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) beginning with the 2026 general election. Provides that a candidate for election to the IURC: (1) must have resided in Indiana for at least one year before the election; and (2) may not have any official or professional relationship or connection with, hold any stock or securities in, or have any pecuniary interest in a utility or a person with an interest in a utility. Provides that a: (1) candidate for election as a member of the IURC; or (2) candidate's committee of a candidate for election as a member of the IURC; may not solicit or accept a contribution from a utility, or from a person with an interest in a utility, for the duration of the candidate's candidacy for election as a member of the IURC.